Stabilized projectile



J. H. HAYDEN.

STABILIZED PROJECTILE.

APPLICATION man OCT-27. m5. RENEWED FEB. :6. ma.

1,316,363. Patented Sept. 16,1919.

WWI UM:

JOHN H. HAYDEN, OF PELHAM MANOR, NEW YORK.

STABILIZED PROJECTILE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Sept. 16, 1919.

Application filed October 27, 1915, Serial No. 58,116. Renewed February 16, 1918. Serial No. 217,712.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN H. HAYDEN, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Pelham Manor, county of lVestche ster, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stabilized Projectiles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to projectiles, and particularly to that type of projectile which is provided with a stabilizing device to insure true flight through the air.

Vhen a round ball is shot from a cannon, the rubbing of the ball against the interior surface of the bore imparts a rotation to the ball which causes it to drift. Therefore, an elongated projectile is employed which can rotate only about its longitudinal axis while within the bore ofthe projectile. When, however, the projectile hasproceeded part way along its flight and begins to drop to the earth, the pressure on the lower front face is greater than that on the upper front face and the projectile tends to turn over backward The modern practice is to impart a rotation to the projectileabout its longitudinal axis so that it will be stabilized by the gyroscopic action of the rotating mass. The rotation is impartedto the projectile by means of helical ridges within thebore extending along the bore of the gun and cooperating with soft metal bands around the projectile. A gun containing rifling ridges, grooves or bands must be made very strong to withstand torsional stresses. Because of the increased strength and labor of manufacture, rifled guns are very expensive, and because of the wearing actionof the projectiles upon the rifling within the gun, the life of the gun is short. My invention is primarily designed to avoid the objectionable features of stabilizing projectiles by imparting a rotation to them in the manner above described. 7

One object of my invention is to provide a projectile having a stabilizingdevice whereby the use of the well-known. rifiing bands within the bore of a gun is rendered partly or wholly unnecessary.

Another object is to provide a projectile having a stabilizing means which becomes operative substantially at the time the projectile begins its flight and which operates Another object is to provide a projectile having a stabilizing means which is put into operative condition by force derived at least partly from the same source as that which is applied to the projectile to move it longitudinally.

Another object is to provide a projectile having astabilizing wheel and a motor for driving the wheel, the motor receiving compressed gases from one part of the projectile and exhausting at another part thereof where the pressure is lower.

Another object is to provide a projectile adapted to be projected from a gun by a. force acting upon the projectile and derived from an explosion within the gun, and having a stabilizing device adapted babe set into operative condition by force rendered available by the explosionf Another object is to provide a projectile adapted to be projected through the air by an explosion withina gun and having a stabilizing device and means set into operationby the explosion for rendering the device operative.

Another object is to provide a projectile adapted to be projected through the air by an explosion withina gun and having a stabilizing device and actuating means thereforand meansfor preserving the 0perativeness of the actuating means during theflight of the projectile.

Other and further objects and advantages ofmy.invention will appear from the fol lowing description takenin connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and' will be pointed out in the hereunto appended claims. p In the drawings, in which like reference characters indicate similar parts,

Figure 1 is a view, partly in section, of a projectile embodying my invention;

v Fig. Qis a view of the projectile shown in Fig. 1, taken from the right;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33, of the device shown in Fig. 1; j}

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line H, of the device shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a partial plan view of the projectile shown in Fig. 1. 7 H

In order to disclose my invention, which is designed to accomplish the objects above enumerated, I show and describe in this specification a preferred embodiment of my invention, which comprises a projectile having therein a stabilizing wheel mounted to rotate freely, and a turbine wheel attached to or built into the stabilizing wheel, the projectile being provided with passages for permitting the products of the explosion which propels the projectile to pass from the explosion chamber to the buckets of the turbine and thence out from the projectile at a point where the pressure is low; the projectile being also provided with recesses containing slow-burning powder and adapted to deliver gas at high velocity to the turbine after the force of the explosion is spent.

Referring to Fig. 1, the projectile comprises a main chamber 1 which carries the bursting charge of powder 2, and an auxiliary chamber 6 which houses the stabilizing wheel 7. The main chamber 1 constitutes any well-known type of projectile and carries a percussion fuse 8, of any well-known design. The auxiliary chamber 6 is secured to the back of the main chamber, for example by screw threads 9 and comprises a hollow cylinder closed by the back wall 10. The stabilizing wheel 7 has attached to it, or formed integral with it, a turbine wheel. In the embodiment herein described the turbine wheel is formed in the stabilizing wheel by cutting out portions of the periphery of the stabilizing wheel to form buckets. These buckets have a radial face 11 and a face 12 at right angles thereto. The faces 11 and 12 may be made in any desired form which may prove to be practical and desirable for securing efficiency and certainty of operation. The stabilizing wheel carries trunnions 13 and 14 which are mounted in anti-friction bearings. In the embodiment herein described the frictionless bearings comprise an inner ball-race 15 in which the trunnions are positioned, and an outer ball-race 16. The outer ball-race of the forward bearing is mounted in an opening in the rear wall 17 of the projectile and the outer ball-race of the rear bearing is mounted in a recess in the back wall 10 of the auxiliary chamber 6. The frictionless bearings'used in connection with the stabilizing wheel are designed to withstand both longitudinal thrust and radial pressure, in order that the wheel may be frictionlessly supported for rotation, and in order, more particularly, that the sudden starting of the projectile will not interfere with the operation of the stabilizing wheel. In order to start the stabilizing wheel, gases from the explosion chamber are carried to the buckets of the turbine by openings leading from the explosion chamber. The openings 18 enter the back of the projectile and pass for a short distance longitudinally thereof, and then turn so that they are directed at right angles to the axis of the projectile, and are then contracted to form the nozzles 20 which direct the gases substantially tangentially to the turbine wheel. The gases are carried from the turbine chamber by means of exhaust passages 21.

It will be noted that the rear end of the projectile is provided with a soft metal band 22 which'encircles the projectile and is embedded in a groove formed therein.

This band is adapted to fit closely within the smooth bore 9 from which the projectile is intended to be fired. This band 22 seals the projectile within the bore of the gun. The exhaust passages come from the turbine chamber to a point which is outside of the point at which the bore is sealed by the band 22; that is, the gases enter the passages 18 from a point where the gases are highly compressed, and exhaust from the passages 21 at a point which is in communication with the atmosphere.

It will be noted that in the construction and operation above disclosed the means for rendering operative the stabilizing wheel derives its energy from the same source from which the energy comes which propels the projectile through the air; but that the energy which is imparted to the turbine in the embodiment disclosed in this specification produces no force tending to propel the projectile longitudinally. In other words, it may be said that in the embodiment of my invention herein disclosedwhich is only one of the possible embodiments of my inventionthe force which puts the stabilizing means in operative e011- dition is independent of that which is applied to the projectile to give longitudinal movement.

It is to be understood that I do not confine myself in every case to such an arrangement and operation, for I intend that the devices in which that part of the energy of the explosion which is used to render operative the stabilizing means also acts to produce longitudinal movement of the projectile, shall also fall within the scope of my invention.

From the structure above described it is apparent that I have provided means for rendering the stabilizing means operative by a force derived from the explosion which propels the projectile. In order to preserve the operative condition of the stabilizing means, I have provided means for imparting energy to the actuating device of the stabilizin means after the force of the explosion is spent. This means comprises powder 22 which is compressed to insure that it will burn slowly, and which is placed within recesses 23 formed within the shell of the auxiliary chamber 6 and extending parallel to the periphery thereof. The ends 24 of the chambers '23 which are nearest to the nozzles 20 are contracted as shown in Fig. 5, so that the gases produced by the burning of the powder 22 will be delivered to the turbine buckets at high velocity. It will be apparent that the powder 22 is ignited by the explosion which propels the projectile. I have therefore provided means for setting into operative condition and preserving in operative condition thestablllzing device, which means is rendered operative by the explosion which propels the projectile.

It will appear that I have provided a device which will stabilize the projectile even though the projectile be shot from a smoothbore gun, the cost of which is low compared with the cost of a rifled gun; and that I have provided means for rendering the stabilizing means of such a projectile operative substantially simultaneously with the explosion within the gun; and that I have provided means for preserving the operative condition of the stabilizing device.

While I have described with great detail one embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that such modifications, adaptations and variations thereof as may occur to those skilled in the art will fall within my invention, and that my invention shall be defined only by the hereunto appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination, an aerial projectile adapted to be propelled through the air by force applied thereto and derived from an explosion within a gun, and a. stabilizing wheel for said projectile and adapted to be driven by force rendered available by said explosion.

2. In combination, an aerial projectile adapted to be propelled through the air by force applied thereto and derived from an explosion within a gun, and a stabilizing wheel for said projectile, said stabilizing wheel being adapted to be driven by force derived from said explosion within said gun.

3. In combination, an aerial projectile adapted to be propelled through the air by force applied thereto and derived from an explosion within a gun, a stabilizing wheel for said projectile, and actuating means for said stabilizing wheel and adapted to be set into operation by compressed gases.

4. In combination, an aerial projectile adapted to be propelled through the air by force applied thereto and derived from an explosion within a gun, and a stabilizing wheel for said projectile and mounted within said projectile for rotation relatively thereto, said stabilizing wheel being adapted to be rendered operative by an explosion within said gun.

5. In combination, an aerial projectile adapted to be propelled through the air by force applied thereto and derived from an explosion within a gun, a stabilizing wheel for said projectile, and means set into operation by the said explosion for rendering operative said stabilizing wheel.

6. In combination, an aerial projectile adapted to be propelled through the air by force applied thereto and derived from an explosion within a gun, a stabilizing wheel for said projectile and means for preserving the operativeness of said wheel during the flight of said projectile and set into operation by said explosion.

7. In combination, an aerial projectile adapted to be propelled through the air by force applied thereto and derived from an explosion within a gun, a stabilizing wheel for said projectile and adapted to be put in operative condition by force applied thereto and derived from said explosion and means for preserving the operativeness of said stabilizing means during the flight of said projectile.

S. In combination an aerial projectile adapted to be propelled through the air by force applied thereto and derived from an explosion within a gun, a stabilizing wheel for said projectile, means for putting said wheel in operative condition and means for preserving the operativeness of said wheel during the flight of said projectile.

9. In combination, an aerial projectile adapted to be propelled through the air by force applied thereto and derived from an explosion within a gun, a stabilizing wheel for said projectile, actuating means for said Wheel and adapted to derive energy from said explosion, and means to supply ener y to said actuating means during the flight of said projectile.

10. In combination, an aerial projectile. adapted to be propelled through the air by force applied thereto and derived from an explosion within a gun, a stabilizing device for said projectile, means for rendering said device operative within said gun and means for preserving the operativeness of said device.

11. In combination, an aerial projectile adapted to be propelled through the air by force applied thereto and derived from an explosion within a gun, a stabilizing device for said projectile, actuating means for putting said device in operative condition and adapted to derive energy from a first source and a second source of energy rendered available by said first source.

12. In combination, an aerial projectile adapted to be propelled through the air by force applied thereto and derived from an explosion within a gun, a stabilizing wheel for said projectile and mounted for rotation relatively thereto, and a source of energy for putting said stabilizing wheel in operative condition and rendered available by said explosion.

13. In combination, an aerial projectile adapted to be propelled through the air by force applied thereto and derived from an explosion within a gun, a stabilizing wheel for said projectile and actuating means for said stabilizing wheel and driven by said explosion.

lat. In combination, an aerial projectile adapted to be propelled through the air by force applied thereto and derived from an explosion within a gun, and a stabilizing wheel for said projectile and driven by said explosion.

15. In combination, an aerial projectile adapted to be propelled through the air by force applied thereto and derived from an explosion within a gun, a stabilizing wheel for said projectile and actuating means for said wheel and adapted to render said wheel operative substantially simultaneously with the beginning of the longitudinal movement of said projectile.

16. In combination, an aerial projectile adapted to be propelled through the air by force applied thereto and derived from an explosion within a gun, stabilizing means for said projectile and a turbine wheel for actuating said stabilizing means, said projectile being provided with passages to conduct products of said explosion to and from said turbine.

17 In combination with a gun for proj ecting a projectile through the air, an aerial projectile adapted to be propelled through the air by force applied thereto and derived from an explosion within said gun, stabilizing means for said projectile and actuating means for said stabilizing means, said projectile being adapted to seal the explosion chamber of said gun and having a passage leading from the sealed portion of said gun to said actuating means and a passage leading from said actuating means to an unsealed portion of said gun.

18. In combination, an aerial projectile adapted to be propelled through the air by force applied thereto and derived from an explosion within a gun, stabilizing means for said projectile, actuating means for said stabilizing means, said projectile having a recess therein and means in said recess and adapted to be released by said explosion for storing energy to operate said actuating means.

19. In combination with a gun for proj ecting a projectile through the air, an aerial projectile adapted to be propelled through the air by force applied thereto and derived from an explosion Within said gun, stabilizing means for said projectile and actuating means for said stabilizing means, said projectile being adapted to seal the explosion chamber of said gun and having a passage leading from the sealed portion of said gun to said actuating means and a passage leading from said actuating means to an unsealed portion of said gun, said projectile also having a recess communicating with said first-named passage and combustible material in said recess.

20. In combination, an aerial projectile adapted to be propelled through the air by force applied thereto and derived from an explosion within a gun, a stabilizing wheel for said projectile, actuating means for said Wheel, said projectile having a recess, and combustible material in said recess for supplying energy to said actuating means.

21. In combination, an aerial projectile adapted to be propelled through the air by force applied thereto and derived from an explosion within a gun, a stabilizing wheel for said projectile, actuating means for said wheel, and a source of compressed gas for operating said actuating means and rendered available by said explosion.

22. As an article of manufacture, a projectile, a stabilizing wheel therefor and mounted for rotation relatively thereto, said projectile having a recess and combustible material in said recess and for setting into operation said stabilizing device.

23. In combination, an aerial projectile adapted to be propelled through the air by force applied thereto and derived from an explosion within a gun, a stabilizing wheel for said projectile, a part of the surface of said wheel being formed to provide turbine buckets, and passages for conducting gases from said explosion to said bucket.

2a. In combination, an aerial projectile adapted to be propelled through the air by force applied thereto and derived from an explosion within a gun,a stabilizing wheel for said projectile and a turbine for actuating said Wheel and adapted to be operated by force derived from said explosion.

25. I11 combination with a hollow projectile having a partition dividing said projectile into two chambers, a bursting charge in one chamber, and a stabilizing wheel in said other chamber, said wheel having trunnions, one of which is supported in said partition and the other of which is supported in the wall of said projectile.

'26. In combination, an aerial projectile adapted to be propelled through the air by force applied thereto and derived from an explosion Within a gun, a stabilizing Wheel that ejects the projectile from the gun and for said projectile and a turbine therefor operative directly under the force of such 10 adapted to be operated by direct applicaexplosion to set up a rotation of said mass tion of products of combustion. in respect to said shell.

27. A projectile comprising an outer shell In testimony whereof, I have signed my and an interior mass arranged to rotate on name to this specification. the longitudinal axis of said outer shell, and means subject to the force of the explosion JOHN H. HAYDEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

